The biggest WandaVision Easter Egg you never noticed

Marvel Studios' WandaVision was a triumph in every way imaginable. The first ever Disney Plus show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it launched Phase Four on a high, earning the franchise critical acclaim, fan adoration, and its first ever Emmy nominations (and wins!). It was thrilling, spectacular, and full of surprises along the way - surprises that just never stopped coming, and kept us guessing the whole way throughout.

Yes, WandaVision was full of Easter Eggs, nods, and references - both to events that took place within the MCU, and to wider television in general. There were nods to I Love Lucy, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, and more, all while making subtle hints and references to iconic aspects of the MCU and the wider Marvel Universe (including the Quicksilver red herring).

However, there is one Easter Egg so buried within the subtleties of the show that you might be forgiven for missing it.

Stan Lee's Birthday Easter Egg in WandaVision episode 7

All episodes of WandaVision paid tribute to classic sitcoms of generations gone by, but the seventh episode of the Disney Plus miniseries ("Breaking The Fourth Wall") was a love letter to modern comedies of the 2010s. Taking its cues from so many workplace comedies such as The Office, it features Wanda Maximoff breaking the fourth wall and speaking to the viewers as she begins to notice that things in her house aren't what they seem.

The opening credits simply feature the word "Wanda", which appears in different fonts and on different objects, from storefronts to street signs. However, one of the objects - a custom car number plate that also says "Wanda" on it - features the numbers 122822 on it. While some may have figured this out, it went largely unnoticed for years, but it turns out that it's actually a date; the date of Stan Lee's birthday,December 28, 1922.

WandaVision director Matt Shakman acknowledged the Easter Egg in an interview with Screen Rant, telling the outlet that they had to honor the legendary Marvel Comics creator. The nod has re-entered the public sphere recently as the official Stan Lee Instagram account posted about it, acknowledging the license plate tribute and confirming that it is indeed a reference to Stan Lee's birthday.

The Marvel titan sadly passed away in 2018 at the age of 95, but he would posthumously appear in two more Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that he had already filmed cameos for (Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame). WandaVision was the first MCU title that he didn't appear in, so this was an incredibly tasteful, lovely tribute to the legendary man behind so many of our beloved Marvel heroes.

WandaVision was a resounding success that started the Disney Plus era of the MCU on a very high note. There have been over 10 Disney Plus shows greenlit since, including two spinoffs Agatha All Along and Vision Quest.

Many still regard this one as the greatest of the MCU shows, and it's honestly hard to argue with that. And this tasteful Easter Egg is just one of many examples of what a thoughtful piece of television it is.